Buckle



Aug, 3, 1937.

J. G. TOMPKINS BUCKLE Filed Oct. 14, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 0@ 8% ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1937. J. G. TOMPKINS BUCKLE 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1953 INVENTOR km; Q 7507 07;

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKLE ration of California.

Application October 14,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a buckle 'for adjusting the length of a flexible web, or of a belt. Such buckles are in common use in connection with articles of clothing, such as hose supporters, belts, and suspenders.

This application is an improvement of a prior application, Serial No. 652,165, filed in the name of James G. Tompkins, on January 1'7, 1933, now Patent No. 1,995,439, granted March 26, 1935 for a Buckle.

In said prior application there is described a buckle and a method of making it, in which there is a sliding bar intermediate the upper and lower bars. The web is attached at one end, to the lower bar; then it is formed into a loop and passed successively through the space between the lower and intermediate bars, and then through the space between the intermediate bar and the upper bar. The upper bar has serrations or teeth engaging the webbing, to hold the material at a definite loop length.

It is one of the objects of this invention to improve in general, the structure of the buckle.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved mode of attaching the web to the lower bar.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved form of buckle in which the end of the web is attached to the intermediate bar.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a. consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

1933, Serial No. 693,604

with the buckle can be attached permanently to the lower bar of the buckle;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, but of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the buckle in use in connection with an elastic or flexible web;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but of still another modification of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along plane Ill-40 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the buckle shown in Fig. 9; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are sectional views showing how the buckle of Fig. 9 may be used.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the buckle comprises a rectangular frame having an upper cross bar I and a lower cross bar 2. These cross bars are joined integrally to the sides 3 and 4. The entire frame can be made from sheet metal in a manner to be hereinafter described. Furthermore, the sides 3 and 4 are slotted, the slots being indicated at 5 and 6. These slots 5 and 9 accommodate the reduced ends 8 and. 9 of an intermediate sliding bar I. The reduced ends 8 and 9 can either slide or roll in slots 5 and 6 but preferably these ends are rectangular in section, whereby sliding alone is permitted.

The flexible or elastic web ill with which the buckle is used can be permanently attached at one end to the lower bar 2. For providing the fastening means, there is a doubled over portion H of the lower bar 2. This doubled over portion carries the sharply pointed projections l2. 'Iliese projections are pointed toward the concave back surface of the bar 2. In Fig. 2 the buckle is shown prior to the joining of the web I!) to the bar 2. In Fig. 5 the web ii! is shown as clinched between the parts 2 and H, the projections I2 having been turned inwardly by being pressed against the inner concave surface of bar 2. The fabric [9 is thus clinched underneath the sharp points of projections l2. These sharp points pass through the webbing.

In Fig. 4 there is illustrated the development of the buckle as it may be stamped from sheet metal. The sides 3 and 4 are here shown as in the same plane as bars I and 2 prior to any bending operation. Slots. 5 and 6 as well as a slot l3 are punched in the sheet. The slot I3 is merely used for providing a loop adjacent the upper edge of bar I.

The opening of the buckle frames between the bars I and 2 is formed by severing the sheet of any thickness of the web Ill.

The cut I5 is extended downwardly at each end as indicated at I6 and I], so as to make it possible to form the fastener bar II by bending the severed portion defined by lines I6, I'I downwardly. This operation also forms a space between the bars I and 2. It is to be noted that the severing line I5 has, straight end portions'22 and 23 of considerable width. These end portions form the side guards 24 and 25, at each end of the serrated clamping bar. They serve to cover the edges of the fabric I0 adjacent the side members 3 and 4.

The sides 3 and 4 are bent up at right angles to the stamping to form the complete frame. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2 bars I and 2 are bent slightly to make them convex toward the front and concave toward the back.

One manner in which the buckle may be used is illustrated in Fig. 8. One end of the elastic or flexible web I0 is fastened between the bars 2 and II. A loop I8 is formed which can pass through a hose supporter I9 or the like. 7

The upper end of the loop is passed around the intermediate bar I and thence underneath the serrated edge of bar I, which bites into the web It! and holds it firmly in adjustment. The upper end of web IEI can be fastened to any appropriate support, as for example a girdle or a corset, in case the web be used as a womans support.

Since the intermediate bar I is' free to move transversely of the frame, it adjusts itself to To adjust the length of loop I8, the upper bar I can be moved to the dot-and-dash position of Fig. 8, to tilt the entire buckle outwardly from the top portion of web III. In this positionthe serrations .I4 are freed from the web I0 and the web is free to' slide either way on the intermediate bar I. As soon as the desired adjustment is made, the bar I can be released and the serrations I4 then reengage the web III.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the upper bar I is formed in a manner similar to the modification of Fig. 1. The lower bar 28, however, is shown in this instance as flat. The rear clamping bar 21 is curved inwardly and is not provided with projections, the continuous sharp edge of the clamping bar 21 serving to perform the clinching operation on the end of the fabric ID.

The buckle structure can be utilized in still other ways. For example, the end of the webbing III can be clamped to the intermediate sliding bar, rather than to the lower bar 2. Such a form is illustratedin Figs. 9 to 13. In this case the buckle has an upper bar 28 and a lower bar 29 integrally joining the sides 30 and 3|. The intermediate bar 32 has ends projecting into slots 33 in the sides 38 and 3|. Furthermore, it has an integrally joined clamping bar 34.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 12 and 13, the end 36 of a flexible webbing 31 can be fastened to the intermediate bar 32 by bending the clamping bar 34 securely over the end 36. A loop 38 can then be formed in the webbing 31, the end of the loop extending first through the space between the lower bar 29 and the intermediate bar 32; and then through the space between intermediate bar 32 and the upper bar 28. The serrations in the lower edge of the upper bar 28 while the buckle is in use engage the webbing 31. However, when the buckle frame is moved outwardly as indicated in Fig. 13, the serrations are disengaged, making it possible to adjust the length of the loop 38.

I claim: I

1. In a buckle structure, an open frame having sides, a lower bar having a concave side, and a serrated clamping bar bent over the lower bar, the serrations being adapted to pass through the fabric of the element on which the buckle is to be used, and to engage the concave side of the bar for clinching the serrations over the fabric, the serrations being directed upwardly after clinching, whereby to support the pull of the fabric.

2. In a buckle structure, an open frame having sides, a pair of spaced bars connecting the sides, one of the bars having a concave side,

an intermediate bar, and a serrated clamping bar I? bent over the concave side, the serrations being adapted to pass through the fabric of the element on which the buckle is to be used, and to engage the concave side of the bar for clinching the serrations over the fabric, the serrations being directed upwardly after clinching, whereby to support the pull of the fabric.

3. In a buckle structure, an open frame having sides, a pair of spaced bars integrally joined to the sides, and an intermediate bar, one of said spaced bars having serrations along one edge, and the other spaced bar having a clamping portion folded over the bar, said clamping portion having an edge with a series of pointed projections, and the ends of the edge being flat and extending beyond the folded over clamping portion, to serve as guards for the end corners of the fabric clamped to the said other spaced bar.

4. In a buckle structure,-an open frame hav- 

